OKLAHOMA CITY, Feb. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Designed to support and spur the success of local entrepreneurship, Cox Business is bringing "Get Started OKC" to Oklahoma City in partnership with Inc. Magazine on March 5, 2013 at the Oklahoma History Center.

Co-sponsored by Mozy, Cox's partner for delivering leading cloud backup solutions to customers, the event will highlight up to 10 businesses or entrepreneurs who will pitch their idea. One winner will be named that evening to receive $5,000 in Cox Business technology. Local small businesses that don't want to compete are encouraged to attend this free event for networking and learning opportunities from accomplished leaders in digital marketing, funding and business growth strategy.

Venture capitalist Josh Linkner (@joshlinkner), digital marketing leader Ann Handley (@MarketingProfs) and successful CEO and Inc. 5000 winner, Phil G. Busey, Sr., founder, chairman and CEO of The Busey Group of Companies will be providing the expert, real-time feedback to individuals with an innovative business idea. Eric Markowitz (@EricMarkowitz) of Inc. Magazine will be moderating the festivities. Although each panelist will bring unique perspectives in achieving success, they will have one common focus the night of March 5, 2013 in Oklahoma City: to provide guidance and insider tips that will make a difference in these entrepreneurs' lives.

"We're committed to helping our business customers grow -- their success benefits the entire community. Get Started OKC is an illustration of this commitment." said Randy Chandler, vice president of Cox Business Oklahoma. "We are thrilled to be offering this event to local businesses as an opportunity to learn from the best and from one another. It's going to be a great night."

For those businesses or individuals interested in entering for the opportunity to pitch their business idea, they can click here to enter and must provide a 250 or less word description of the proposed product or service pitch. All entries must be received by 12:01 a.m. CT on February 21, 2013. Cox Business will select up to 10 finalists who will present their pitch live the night of March 5. Finalists will have two minutes to pitch their business idea to the expert panel and will receive immediate feedback. The panelists will then determine the best pitch and winner of the contest who will receive a $5,000 Cox Business technology package.

Finalists will be determined by innovation, ease of implementation and the benefit it brings the local community. Chandler adds, "We are passionate at Cox about supporting and driving growth in our backyard. The finalists, and ultimately the winner, will not only exhibit innovation and something that can be realistically implemented, but will be someone who shares our commitment to Oklahoma City."

Get Started OKC will begin at 5:30 p.m. with networking and will include food, drinks and an unforgettable educational opportunity for local businesses. After the pitching takes place, an interactive Q&A will take place with the expert panel and live audience.

Entrants will be notified by February 25, 2013 if they are selected to pitch in the live event.

Beginning at 6:30 p.m. CST on March 5, people can log-in to www.GetStartedOKC.com to watch the pitches live via a live stream.

Post event, local businesses and individuals will have an opportunity to vote on their favorite in a "people's choice" contest which will be live at GetStartedOKC.com after the event. This site is not yet live.

The winner of the "people's choice" contest will receive one-on-one consulting time with Phil G. Busey Senior and a profile on the Cox Business social destination Cox Blue.

Businesses that want to start learning can visit Cox Blue to begin understanding new ways to grow with digital marketing, online branding, lead generation and social media. Click here to view Cox Blue.

The official rules for the Get Started OKC event can be found by clicking here.

Cox Business provides voice, data and video services for more than 300,000 small and regional businesses, including healthcare providers, K-12 and higher education, financial institutions and federal, state and local government organizations. The organization also serves most of the top tier wireless and wireline telecommunications carriers in the U.S. through its wholesale division. According to Vertical Systems Group, Cox Business is one of the largest providers of business Ethernet services in the U.S. based on customer ports and has been consistently recognized for its leadership among small/midsize business data service providers. Cox is currently the seventh largest voice service provider in the U.S. and supports one million phone lines. For more information about Cox Business, Click Here or call 1-800-396-1609.

About Cox Online Backup:

Cox Business Online Backup powered by Mozy provides businesses with a safe, secure service that backs up files automatically while allowing users to access and restore files in the office or out. Most new and existing Cox Business Internet customers receive Cox Business Online Backup as part of the service, which includes up to 25GB storage, over 20 times more than traditional telecommunications providers. In addition, Cox Business Online Backup now offers customers 250GB and 1TB incremental storage options as needed, which benefits customers as they require more secure storage to backup servers or safeguard the entire office. For more information about Cox Online Backup, click here.

About Cox Communications:

Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet and telephone services over its own nationwide IP network. The third-largest U.S. cable TV company, Cox serves approximately 6 million residences and businesses. Cox Business is a facilities-based provider of voice, video and data solutions for commercial customers, and Cox Media is a full-service provider of national and local cable spot and new media advertising.

Cox is known for its pioneering efforts in cable telephone and commercial services, industry-leading customer care and its outstanding workplaces. For seven years, Cox has been recognized as the top operator for women by Women in Cable Telecommunications; for seven years, Cox has ranked among DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity. More information about Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com and www.coxmedia.com.

About Inc.:

Inc., the only major business magazine dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, delivers real solutions for today's innovative company builders. It provides hands-on resources and market-tested strategies for managing people, finances, sales, marketing, and technology. In addition, Inc. looks beyond work to address the entrepreneurial lifestyle. Inc. inspires and informs, with cutting-edge coverage that reflects its readers' energy, brashness, and imagination.